Al-Kadhimiya Mosque

Al-Kadhimiya Mosque (Arabic: مَسْجِد ٱلْكَاظِمِيَّة‎, romanized: Masjid Al-Kāẓimiyyah) or "Al-Kadhimayn Shrine" (Arabic: حَرَم ٱلْكَاظِمَيْن‎, romanized: Ḥaram Al-Kāẓimayn) is a Shi'ite Islamic mosque and shrine located in the Kādhimayn suburb of Baghdad, Iraq. It contains the tombs of the seventh and ninth Twelver Shī'ī Imāms, respectively Mūsā al-Kāẓim and his grandson Muhammad al-Jawad. Also buried within the premises of this mosque are the historical scholars Shaykh Mufīd and Shaykh Naṣīr ad-Dīn aṭ-Ṭūsi.[1][2][3] Directly adjacent to the mosque are two smaller shrines, belonging to the brothers Sayyid Raḍī (who compiled Nahjul-Balāghah) and Sayyid Murtadā.

Al-Kāẓimīyah Mosque and Shrine
مَسْجِد ٱلْكَاظِمِيَّة حَرَم ٱلْكَاظِمَيْن
The Mosque of Al-Kadhimiya
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Rite	Shia Islam
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Mosque and shrine
Status	Active
Location
Location	Kādhimayn, Baghdad, Iraq
Location in Baghdad Show map of Baghdad Al-Kadhimiya Mosque (Iraq) Show map of Iraq Al-Kadhimiya Mosque (Middle East) Show map of Middle East Al-Kadhimiya Mosque (Asia) Show map of Asia
Geographic coordinates	33°22′48″N 44°20′17″E
Architecture
Style	Safavid architecture
Shrine(s)	6

History

The mosque in 1962

The mosque is built on the site of the Qureish cemetery, which was created with the original Round City of Baghdad in 762 AD. This cemetery became the burial site of the Imam Mūsā al-Kāẓim in 799 AD, followed by his grandson Imam Muhammad al-Jawad in 834 AD. The current building dates to the restoration carried out by Shah Ismail I from 1502–1524. It was further ornamented by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent after he conquered Baghdad in 1534. Since, it has continued to be kept in a state of good repair.[4]

Repairs and maintenance

In December 2018

Inner structure

Zarih over the qabr (grave) of one of the Kazimayn

Repairs to the crumbling structure of the main courtyard of the mosque and its surrounding rooms were carried out in three phases, spanning a period of four months, before the end of 2007.[5] The project entailed the stripping off of the old crumbling walls throughout the courtyard, the addition of various reinforcements to the walls and ceilings, as well as maintenance on the electrical wirings throughout the mosque.[5] Once the inner structure was completed, the floors and walls were then plated in various kinds of marble.[5] Updates to the cooling units of the mosque began in late 2008,[6] and new water filtration units were installed on November 28, 2008.[7]

Construction on the new ladies entrance to the mosque, that is Bāb al-Fāṭimah (Arabic: بَاب ٱلْفَاطِمَة‎), began in late 2008,[8] along with the construction work for new rooms to the mosque meant for serving refreshments to pilgrims.[9]

Outer structure

Among the earliest of repairs done to the mosque, after the fall of the regime of Saddam Hussein, were repairs done to one of the entrance gates of the mosque known as Bāb al-Qiblah (Arabic: بَاب ٱلْقِبْلَة‎).[10] The gate and the outer wall had to be entirely refurbished because of the severe neglect they had withstood, and took seven months to complete, having started in early September 2006.[10]

The golden dome over the grave of Muhammad at-Taqī was re-gilded and unveiled to the public in March 2008, during the birthday celebrations of Muhammad and his descendant, Ja‘far as-Sādiq.[2] Repair work on the dome over the grave of Mūsā al-Kādhim began in early August 2008, during the birthday ceremonies of Husayn ibn ‘Alī, ‘Abbās ibn ‘Alī, and ‘Alī ibn Husayn.[3]

Recent timeline

Date	Event
March 2, 2004	At least 75 people were killed and hundreds others were wounded as crowds had gathered to commemorate ‘Āshūrā'.[11] Concurrent explosions also occurred at the Imām Husayn Mosque in Karbalā.
August 31, 2005	This mosque was the destination of the crowd that was caught up in the Baghdad bridge stampede.
June 6, 2007	At least 7 people were killed after twin car bombings occurred near the mosque.[12]
June 27, 2007	A car bomb killed at least 14 people and injured 22 others.[13]
March 25, 2008	The freshly gilded dome over the grave of Muhammad at-Taqī was unveiled to the public, as crowds had gathered in celebration for the birthday of Muhammad as well as his descendant, Ja‘far as-Sādiq.[2]
December 27, 2008	A car bomb killed at least 24 people and wounded 46 others, many of them Shiite pilgrims. The explosion occurred about 100 yards from Bab al-Dirwaza, one of the main gates to the shrine.[14]
January 4, 2009	A male suicide bomber dressed as a woman,[15] killed 38 and injured 72 Shia pilgrims as they were preparing for ‘Āshūrā'.[16][17]
April 8, 2009	7 people were killed and 23 others were wounded after a bomb that was left in a plastic bag near the mosque detonated.[15][18][19]
April 24, 2009	Two female suicide bombers killed at least 66 people and wounded 125 others as people were heading towards the mosque for Friday prayers.[15][20]
May 2, 2016	A triple car bomb series goes off. At least 21 pilgrims are killed and 45 injured. The pilgrims were commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Musa Al-Kadhim. Immediately after the blasts terrorists group ISIS claim the responsibility.[15][21]

See also

• Holiest sites in Islam (Shia)
• Iraqi art
• List of mosques in Baghdad
• Mesopotamia in the Quran
• Shia Islam in Iraq

References

1. "تاریخچه حرم کاظمین" (in Persian). kazem.ommolketab.ir. Archived from the original on 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
2. افتتاحية قبة الامام الجواد عليه السلام. www.aljawadain.org (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
3. البدء بإعمار وتذهيب قبة الإمام الكاظم عليه السلام. www.aljawadain.org (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
4. Jawad, Aymen (2013), Al Kathimayn Shrine, Baghdad, Iraq Heritage Foundation
5. مشروع صيانة حجرات الصحن الشريف. www.aljawadain.org (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
6. مشروع تبريد الحرم الكاظمي المقدس. www.aljawadain.org (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2009-05-10. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
7. افتتاح مشروع تحلية المياه في العتبة الكاظمية المقدسة. www.aljawadain.org (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2009-05-10. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
8. باب فاطمة عليها السلام مدخل جديد للنساء. www.aljawadain.org (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2009-05-10. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
9. إنشاء مضيف للزائرينٍ. www.aljawadain.org (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2009-05-10. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
10. مشروع أعمار وصيانة باب القبلة. www.aljawadain.org (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
11. "Blasts Kill 125 at Iraq Shiite Shrines". The Washington Post. 2004-03-02. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
12. Gamel, Kim (2007-06-06). "Bombs hit Baghdad neighbourhood near Shiite shrine". thestar.com. Toronto. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
13. "Car bombing near Shiite shrine kills 14". USA Today. 2007-06-28. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
14. Dagher, Sam (December 28, 2008). "Car Bomb Near Baghdad Shrine Kills 24, as Iraqi Shiites' Holiest Month Approaches". New York Times. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
15. "Iraqi police say 60 dead in double shrine bombing". CTV.ca. Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
16. Redha, Usama; Yoshino, Kimi (January 5, 2009). "Suicide bomber kills 38 near Iraqi shrine". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
17. "Pilgrims die in Iraq bomb blast". BBC. 2009-01-04. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
18. "7 killed, 23 wounded in blast near Iraq holy shrine". CNN.com. April 8, 2009. Archived from the original on 11 April 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
19. Raghavan, Sudarsan; Mizher, Qais (2009-04-09). "7 Killed in Baghdad Near Shiite Shrine". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
20. "Suicide blasts kill 66 at Baghdad Shiite shrine". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
21. "Car bombing kills at least 18 pilgrims in Baghdad, ISIS claims responsibility". cbc.ca. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.

External links

• History of the Shrine at Kadhimayn